Very sad news in the world of European and international basketball. Janis Timma was found dead at the age of 32 on Monday in Moscow, announce several media outlets and the Russian news agency TASS. According to the latter, Timma fell from a significant height in circumstances which have yet to be made official. The winger had played for a year in the G-League in 2021-2022 with the Osceola Magic team, affiliated with Orlando, but had especially made a name for himself in Europe and the Latvian national team. In particular, he had faced the French team on several occasions.
A very good shooter and part of the Latvian selection, Timma did not leave a lasting memory in the NBA lobby, playing 20 games for unremarkable statistics (6.4 points, 3.4 rebounds). Almost ten years earlier, he had been the last one called up in the 2013 Draft, selected by the Grizzlies with the 60th pick. He had made more of a name for himself on the Old Continent, playing in the Euroleague five times with Baskonia, Olympiakos , Khimki Moscow and UNICS Kazan.
Mental health problems
He shared his 2023-2024 season between the Turkish club Darussafaka and Monbus Obradoiro, in Spain. Without a club, he had signed up in recent weeks with a private Russian 3×3 team, closing the doors to the Latvian selection.
His partner Kristaps Porzingis reacted to the news overnight, pleading to begin with so that the information “ not be true“, before confirming the death of Janis Timma. The latest tweet from inside the Celtics evokes the subject of mental health, while Timma had expressed his sorrow in recent weeks, in particular evoking suicidal thoughts. “ Human connection is the keystone of our mental health. Please look out for each other. Rest in peace JT. »
Other players, like the Frenchman Vincent Poitier whom he worked with at Baskonia, were also moved by the death of Janis Timma.
Man…32 years old…rip my guy
— Vincent Poirier (@viinze_17P) December 17, 2024
